Senior Reading Response # 7

Edge of Vision by Lyle Rexer

One main idea I took from this reading is that whenever you make a photograph you’re playing with the difference between a “rendering” and an “expression.” Over the years I’ve come to realize that photography is inherently conceptual, no matter what form it takes, because of its relationship to the “real” or physical world, our world. On page 32 it says a photographic print is a reconstruction of the world, and I agree. You can’t escape the individuality of humans, even when they work mainly through a machine.

I tried to think of another art form that is related to photography in its dependence on the existence of another, preexisting material (in photography I would say the most basic preexisting material needed would be light, and from there you add whatever the subject(s) is/are, if any). I quickly thought of casting: the sculptural mold as a 3 dimensional brother to the photograph. I wonder now that 3D printing is steadily becoming more common what the implications will be in the future for photography. It might already be possible (I don’t know much about 3D printing) but I envision the ability to pull a set of digital photographic files into a program and end up with a printed model of the subject, probably even in color. As it says in the reading, photography has always been an investigative act, a medium that melds experimentation, science, and artistry. First there was photosensitivity and the invention of fix; then reproducible prints via the paper negative; then smaller and better cameras; color film; finally, digital cameras and software; I think it’s possible that 3D printing could be one of the next big things to change the direction of photography, as all these things have done in the past.

Julian Mauve "Lonely Window"

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/julien-mauve_n_4276863.html?utm_hp_ref=arts>

An idea like this has been in the back of my mind for a while. Like these a lot

Lighting Self-Directed Final

Selections from First Shoot 

One and Two Dynalites, Diffuser, Umbrella

Senior Reading Response # 6

The Photographer’s Eye Intro by John Szarkowski

I think it’s hilarious (and fascinating) that as early as 1893 people were complaining that the “ease” of the photographic medium had spawned,

“an army of photographers who run rampant all over the globe, photographing objects of all sorts, sizes and shapes, under almost every condition, without pausing to ask themselves, is this or that artistic?”

This poor guy had no idea what was coming less than a century and a half later.

I also love the idea that Szarkowski presents at the end of the intro: Photography’s history has not been a journey but a growth, “not linear and consecutive but centrifugal.” I definitely feel that in my own work. Looking through my past photos in order to put together my autobiographical presentation, I’ve noticed themes, subjects, aesthetics that have returned in my recent pictures, usually unconsciously and in different iterations, that I used much earlier on. I think that’s part of why I often feel overwhelmed or lost. The medium is vast and I want to explore as much of it as interests me—which is a lot. So I often feel like I lack direction and perspective overall because I’m thinking about my work linearly. But thinking about a photography practice as growth and exploration of potential, instead of a linear movement toward an end, is more comforting and freeing for me. It allows me to sort of justify the variety of subjects and styles I work with, instead of stressing about making work that “looks like mine.”
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Update: This is only slightly related to this post, but it's awesome:

<http://www.fastcocreate.com/3021463/how-historical-paintings-would-look-if-their-subjects-had-mobile-devices#1>

Re-Shoot Blue and Brown Prints

Two Dynalites, umbrellas

Lighting Final Project Inspirations

Jeff Enlow multi-exposure nudes with polaroid 4x5

<http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2013/11/01/jeff_enlow_parallelograms_is_a_series_of_multiple_exposure_nude_images_shot.html>

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Duane Michals: Who Am I?

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Jon Berger Ways of Seeing Part 2

Implied narcissism, male gaze, female exploitation, identity

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1GI8mNU5Sg&noredirect=1>

Lighting: Product: Process Holiday Series

Light Table